Colombia to the 2026 World Cup: Analysis of the coffee growers’ classification and their figures

Colombia Secures its Ticket to the 2026 World Cup: A Path Full of Emotions

The Colombian national soccer team, after a journey with ups and downs, managed to secure its qualification for the 2026 World Cup, finishing in third place in the South American qualifiers. The team, led by Néstor Lorenzo, sealed its place in the penultimate matchday, demonstrating grit and determination. The coffee growers accumulated a total of 28 points, remaining eleven points behind the leader Argentina. Their performance resulted in seven victories, seven draws, and four defeats, with a goal difference of +10, resulting from 28 goals scored and 18 conceded.

Key Figures and Outstanding Performance

The Colombian attack shone thanks to the duo formed by Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez. Díaz, with seven goals, positioned himself as the second top scorer in the qualifiers. For his part, James Rodríguez, with the same number of assists, established himself as the top assister of the tournament.

• Final Position: 3rd
• Total Points: 28 (11 less than Argentina)
• World Cup Appearances: 7th
• Goal Difference: +10 (28 GF / 18 GC)

Featured Players

Luis Díaz

The Goalscorer

7 Goals

James Rodríguez

El Cerebro

7 Assists

Luis Suárez

The Revelation

4 Goals

Solid Team Base

The team’s backbone remained constant throughout the qualifiers, with key players such as Camilo Vargas, Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, Jefferson Lerma, Richard Ríos, James Rodríguez, and Luis Díaz. Johan Mojica and Jhon Arias joined them, contributing their talent to the team.

The Center Forward’s Challenge

One of the challenges Lorenzo faced was finding a center forward who would establish himself in the starting lineup. Finally, Luis Suárez earned the position, standing out with his performance at the end of the qualifiers.

Key Moments on the Road to the World Cup

• November 2023: Historic 2-1 victory against Brazil, with a brace from Lucho Díaz.
• July 2024: Copa América runner-up, losing the final 0-1 against Argentina.
• September 2024: 2-1 victory against Argentina in Barranquilla.
• October 2024: 0-1 defeat against Bolivia in El Alto.
• November 2024: Defeats against Uruguay and Ecuador.
• September 4, 2025: Qualification secured with a 3-0 victory against Bolivia.

The qualification was secured after a 3-0 victory against Bolivia, breaking a streak of six winless matches. The team demonstrated resilience and determination on their path to the North American World Cup. From the start of the qualifiers, Lorenzo established a solid base in his team, with key players who remained consistent throughout the tournament. The team demonstrated good play and achieved good results in the first few matches, including victories against Venezuela and Paraguay, and draws against Chile, Uruguay, and Ecuador. The highlight was the 2-1 victory against Brazil, showcasing an associative football led by Díaz and James Rodríguez. After the Copa América, the team maintained its momentum, achieving a draw against Peru and a victory against Argentina. In October, the team faced challenges, including a defeat against Bolivia, but recovered with a victory against Chile. However, they suffered defeats against Uruguay and Ecuador. The classification was finalized on September 4, with a 3-0 victory against Bolivia.